Top-10 Most Expensive Collectible Sports Tickets Sales
| Ticket | Price | Date Sold |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 1934 Masters | $600,000 | March 2022 |
| 2. Jackie Robinson | $468,000 | Feb. 2022 |
| 3. Michael Jordan Debut | $468,000 | Feb. 2022 |
| 4. Michael Jordan Debut | $264,000 | Dec. 2021 |
| 5. Tom Brady Signed Debut | $175,000 | Feb. 2022 |
| 6. 1903 World Series Game 3 | $175,000 | Oct. 2022 |
| 7. Michael Jordan Debut | $160,000 | Feb. 2022 |
| 8. Tom Brady Signed Debut | $153,600 | Feb. 2021 |
| 9. Tom Brady Signed First Touchdown | $144,000 | Nov. 2021 |
| 10. Mickey Mantle Debut | $141,395 | Oct. 2021 |
Tickets as collectibles have skyrocketed in recent months. It wasn't until late 2021, that a single ticket sold for more than $100,000.
Since then, 15 tickets have sold for at least $100,000.
Here are the 10 biggest sales of all-time for collectible sports tickets.
1. 1934 Masters Ticket – $600,000
This ticket is autographed by 17 of the 61 participants in the inaugural Masters, which was then called the Augusta National Invitational Tournament. There are believed to be only three known tickets from the tournament, one of which is owned by Augusta National.
2. Jackie Robinson Debut – $480,000
A Jackie Robinson ticket, from April 15, 1947, sold in February for $480,000 at Heritage Auctions for the all-time record for a ticket.
The ticket is one of seven graded by PSA and one of two graded a high of a 2. The sale of the Robinson debut came just a year after an authentic version of the ticket was sold for $40,000.
With the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier coming up, it's hard to see this going down anytime soon.
3. Michael Jordan Debut – $468,000
A man named Michael Cole didn't have anyone to go to the game with him to see Michael Jordan's debut on Oct. 26, 1984. He somehow kept the full unused ticket in tact. Doing that paid dividends as his debut is the only full version of the debut that PSA has graded.
The fact that it's a season ticket holder version and in red, instead of blue, widens its appeal. The ticket was sold at Heritage.
4. Michael Jordan Debut – $264,000
Although less coveted in blue, this version of the Jordan debut is the highest graded by PSA — given a 6. It was sold at Huggins & Scott in December of 2021.
At the time of the sale, this ticket obliterated the record of the $175,000 paid for Game 3 of the 1903 World Series at Christie's just two months before.
5. Tom Brady Signed Debut – $175,200
Tom Brady didn't have the most impressive debut — he finished 1-for-3 passing for six yards in a 34-9 drubbing by the Detroit Lions, but card collectors that have flocked to collectible tickets consider a debut a version of a rookie card.
Unlike the top three tickets on this list, this one is signed. It was sold at Goldin Auctions.
5. Game 3 of the 1903 World Series – $175,000
This ticket is a bit of a mystery as it doesn't necessarily include a star's appearance. It is valued because it's a rare ticket to the first World Series ever.
The ticket was originally owned by Charlie Sheen.
6. Michael Jordan Debut – $160,000
Fractional ownership company Rally bought this debut — a rainbow Ticketron version — privately and offered it at a $160,000 valuation. There were 655 investors that got in at $8 a share.
8. Tom Brady Signed Debut – $153,600
The same grade of ticket (PSA 7), but a better autograph (10) than the one that sold a couple weeks prior and for $22,000 more.
9. Tom Brady Signed First Touchdown – $144,000
A signed full ticket to Tom Brady's first touchdown in New England against the San Diego Chargers.
10. Mickey Mantle Debut – $141,395
It's not surprising that if there's a vintage debut in here, it's from Mickey Mantle's 1951 debut at Yankee Stadium.
Just Missed
The First Masters – $118,599
One of the rarest tickets in the world, a badge to the first Masters (with an original value of $2.20) sold for nearly $120,000 four years ago. Knowing what it was worth in a world where there was virtually no market for tickets, this ticket could easily leap to the top if it surfaced again.
